Wire and cable connector and terminal



NOW 2, 1954 P. DAVIDSON WIRE AND CABLE CONNECTOR AND TERMINAL Filedsept. e, 1951 :inventor y@ QW Gttornegs, Y

United States Patent O M 2,693,587 Y WIRE AND CABLE CONNECTORANDTERMlNAL Philip Davidson, Shelton, Conn. y Application September 6,1951, Serial-No. 245,345 s claims. (ci. 339-272) This invention relatesto a wire and cable connector and terminal, and has for an object toprovide an irnproved wire and terminal connector in which the connectordevice or terminal is of a solderless type connection, and compriseswire andterminal clamping elements connected by screw thread connectionswhereby they may be adjusted relative to each other for clamping orreleasing ,the conductor wires or cables, and a primary object is.torprovide a means for locking these elements when they have beenadjusted to the clamping position, to prevent their loosening up fromvibration, shock or other effects incident to use after the wires orconductors have been clamped.

A further object is to provide a terminal orconnector of. this typewhich presents a substantially smooth unbroken outer surface for easytaping of the entire connector with insulating tape and also toreducecorona loss. With the foregoing and other objects in View, [havedevised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forminga part of this specification. It is, how?. ever, tobe understood theinvention isnot limited to the specific details of construction andarrangement shown, b ut may embody various changes and modificationswithinthe scope of the invention.

In this drawing:

Fig. l is a vertical central section through the device substantially online 1-1 of Fig. 2, except that the locking element is shown in sideelevation;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device looking from the right of Fig.l; e

Fig. 3 Ais an end view of the device ylooking toward the bottom of Fig.l;

,Fig 4 is a perspective View of one ,of the clamping elements;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the adjusting nut;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the other or cooperating clamping element;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the element of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8, is an end view looking toward the bottom of Fig. 7;

. Fig. 9 is a perspective `of the outer element of Fig. 7 with theadjusting nut removed;

Fig. l0 is a perspective view of the nut locking element, and s Fig. llis a diagrammatic view on an enlarged scale illustrating the functioningof the locking means.

A clamping device or connector for conductor wires or. cables loses itsvalue if it becomes loosened when in use. It is therefore a particularobject of this invention to provide apositive lock for the clampingelements after they have been clamped to the tight or clamping positionon the conductor wires or cables to prevent their loosen ing up` undervibration, shock or other eifects incident to use of the device. v

The connector comprises two clamping elements 1 and 2 connected by athreaded connection for adjustment toward and, from each other to ,clampthe conductor wires or cables between them, or to release them, asdesired. The clamping element 1 comprises a frameincluding a head 3 andVspaced parallel side legs 4 which are curved or concavo-convex in crosssection'and are threaded on their inner, or Opposed surfaces 5, at leastfor a portion oftheir length, for threaded engagement` with an,adjusting nut 6. carried by the member 2 to `thus yshift the twomembers, relative to each other for clamping on opposite sidespf two ormore conductorwires or cables inserted inv-or .through the space 7between the legs 4.

2,693,587 Patented Nov. 2, 1954 ICC The two members 1 and 2 are providedwith clamping surfaces to clampon opposite sidesof these conductors orcables, lthe surface on the member 1 being shown at 8 on the under sideof the head 3, and to increase the grip on the cables this head may beprovided with an inwardly extending curved gripping flange or rib 9 onopposite sides of the head and the legs 4. The other gripping member 2comprises a hollow cylindrical body 10 having a closed end wall 11provided with arcuate slots 12 for passage of and sliding engagementwith the legs 4 of the member 1, and the opposite side walls of the body10 are provided with transversely curved extensions 13 located at theouter sides of the curved legs 4 of the member 1 and thus provide guidemeans to prevent rela? tive rocking of the two members 1 and 2 out ofalignment and also to prevent spreading of the legs 4 by lateralpressures in the locking operation. The side portions of the bodybetween the guide members 12 are bent over and inwardly, as shown at 14,to provide a clamping surface opposite clamping surfaces 8 and 9 of themember 1`, and thus the lead wires when inserted in the cross opening 7are clamped between these surfaces on the two elements 1 and 2. Thesebent-over cross walls 14 also extend over the nut 6 within the body 10and retain this nut in position in the body between these walls 14 andthe end wall 11. To also keep the nut in proper central alignment, it isprovided with a reduced circular neck 15 inan opening 16 in the end wall11, and for the purpose of operating this nut to relatively adjust themembers 1 and 2 and clamp them on or 4release them from the conductorwires or cables the lower or outer end of the nut is provided withnoncircular means to receive or cooperate with a similarly shaped wrenchor other tool for operating the nut. In the present construction it ispreferred to provide tthis as a noncircular recess or socket 17, andalthough it may be of any shape desired, it is preferable to make it ofhexagonal cross section opening through the outer end of the neck 15 ofthe nut.

It will be clear that with this construction after the conductor wiresor cables are inserted in or through the transverse space 7 the nut maybe turned to draw the elements 1 and 2 toward each other and securelyclamp the clamping surfaces 9 and 14 on the opposite sides of thesewires or cables, to thus effectively connect them against separation andalso to provide the proper electricalv contact. However, it has beenfound that similar devices will work loose after a while in operationdue to vibration, shock or other eiects incident to their use, thusnullifying the connection. To prevent this the present device isprovided with means for locking the nut 6 against loosening or turningafter it has been set up tight in the clamping position. To elect this,in the present construction a very simple means comprises a locking bar18 of substantially U shape provided at the end of one of its side legs19 with an inwardly bent ear` or lug 20 having an elongated slot 21 toreceive and embrace one of the bent-in end wall sections 14 to 'thusprovide a pivotal connection between the bar 18 and the adjustableclamping member 2. The connecting bar portion 22 may pass over the outerend of the neck 15 of the nut 6 `between theprojecting end portions 4aof legs 4 'of member 1 below the member 2, as shown in Figs. l and 2,and the opposite or other leg 23 of the bar 18 extends on the oppositeside of the body 10 and is provided with a securing lug 24 pressedinwardly from this leg to seat in a similar recess or depression 25formed in the outer wall of the member 10. This bar 18 is resilient andhas suicient spring action so that, when it is swung to this crossposition as shown in full lines in Fig. l, lug 24 will snap into therecess 25 and retain this barin the locking position. To lock the nutagainst turning cooperatinglocking means is provided on the bar 18 andin the present case it comprises an inwardly extending lug or projection26 pressed or struck laterally inward from the bar 22 (leaving a de`pression 26a on the opposite side) so that when this member 18 is in thelocking position shown in full lines in HFig.1 1, this protrusion or lugis seated in the noncircular socket orrecess 17 in the adjusting nut 6.It may be of the same shape as the socket 17 or any shape which willcooperate with it to prevent turning movet l 3 ments of the nut, but itis preferably of an octagonal shape, as shown in the outline 26, Fig.ll, the outline of the socket being shown at 17. That is, alternatesides 27 are wider than its intermediate sides 28 and the lug has a fewthousandths clearance in the socket 17, so that the lug will enter thissocket in practically all positions of the nut, so that when the nut isset up tight this lug 26 will enter the socket and hold the nut againstloosening. When it is desired to release the clamp or for any otherreason to adjust the nut, the locking member 18 may be released andswung away from the locking position, as shown in dotted lines Fig. l,thus releasing the nut and exposing it for operating by a wrench orother tool.

It will be clear from the above that this locking bar or elementprovides a positive locking means, which prevents the conveyor oradjusting screw from turning or loosening after the wires or cables aretightly clamped. In other words, the connector cannot loosen up fromvibration or other causes because it is locked in position, and oncetightened is positively locked and prevents the device from loosening upunder vibration or shock or other effects. The locking bar also coversthe exposed end portion of the nut and protects it against corrosion anddirt. This construction of connector further provides a substantiallysmooth and unbroken outer surface for easy taping of the entireconnector with insulating tape, and this smooth outer surface greatlyreduces corona loss. This device also permits manufacturing of theessential parts, that is, all except the nut 6, from strip metal bystamping and forming operations, with maximum strength and most eiectiveuse of materials, with minimum scrap. The device also provides a compactconstruction which permits maximum torque pressure between thecompressor elements with least possible distortion of the U section.This permits a very firm. positive contact between the overlappedconductor wires or cables and with maximum'electrical contact andconductivity.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, l claim:

l. A wire and cable connector comprising a substantially U-shapedclamping member including laterally spaced transversely curved legs anda connecting head provided with a clamping surface, a second clampingmember and screw assembly including a body member provided with an endwall having curved slots through which the legs pass for slidingconnection between said members, said body member being provided withwalls at its inner end extending between the legs providing a clampingsurface opposed to that of the rst member, a screw member mounted in thebody between said inwardly extending walls and the end wall and havingthreaded engagement with said legs, said screw member being providedwith a noncircular portion exposed at said end wall for cooperation witha similarly shaped tool for operating the screw member, a locking barcomprising a connecting bar portion and a leg portion at one end thereofat substantially right angles to the connecting bar portion providedwith an elongated transverse slot embracing one of said inner end wallson the body member pivotally connecting the locking bar to the bodymember for movement to and from a position in which the connecting barportion lies across the slotted end wall of the body member between thecurved legs of the firs clamping member and the leg portion lies at theouter side of the side walls of the body member, said connecting barportion being provided with noncircular means cooperating with that ofthe screw when in the latter position to lock the screw against turning,and cooperating means on the body member and the other end of theconnecting bar portion releasably retaining said bar in lockingposition.

2. A wire and cable connector comprising a clamping member includinglaterally spaced transversely curved leg members threaded on their innersurfaces and a connecting head providing a clamping surface, a secondclamping member including a body comprising side and end walls, the endwall having curved slots for sliding connection with said legs, saidbody having inner end walls extending transversely between the legsproviding a second clamping surface opposed to that of the first member,a threaded member rotatably mounted in the body between said end wallsand having screw thread connection with said legs, said threaded memberbeing provided with a noncircular socket exposed at the outer end wallof the body to receive a noncircular tool for operating said member, anda locking bar pivotally mounted on said body comprising a connecting barportion movable to and from a position extending across the slotted endwall of the body between the leg members of the first clamping memberand over and covering said socket, said connecting bar portion providedwith a noncircular lug seating in the socket and locking the threadedmember against turning, said bar including an ear at one end providedwith an elongated slot embracing one of said inner end walls of the bodyfor pivotal and sliding connection therewith, and cooperating means onthe body and the other end of the locking bar releasably retaining thisbar in locking position.

3. A wire and cable connector comprising two opposed clamping membersconnected for relative sliding movement and provided with opposedclamping surfaces for the wires, one of said members including arotatable screw element having threaded engagement with the other memberfor clamping them on the wires, said screw element being provided with anoncircular polygonam' shaped socket to receive a similarly shaped toolfor operating said element, a locking bar pivotally mounted on the screwmounting member and provided with a polygonally shaped lug of a size toenter the socket and lock the screw element against turning, said lughaving a different number of sides from that of the socket so as to becapable of entering the socket in a greater number of angular positionsof the screw element than the number of sides on the socket, and meansfor releasably securing the locking bar in locking position.

4. A Wire and cable connector comprising a clamping member includinglaterally spaced legs and a connecting head providing a clampingsurface, a second clamping member comprising a body including side wallsand spaced inner and outer end walls, the outer end wall being providedwith openings having sliding connection with said legs and the inner endwall extending between the legs to provide a clamping surface opposed tothat of the rst member, a screw threaded member rotatably mounted in thebody between the end walls and having threaded connection with saidlegs, said threaded member having a neck portion extending through anopening in the outer end wall, and provided with a noncircular portionto cooperate with a similarly shaped tool for operating said member, aresilient locking bar comprising a substantially U-shaped memberincluding a connecting bar portion and spaced legs at the opposite endsthereof one of which is provided with an elongated slot embracing theinner end wall of the body pivotally mounting the locking bar thereonfor movement of the connecting bar portion to and from a positionextending across the outer end wall of the body and between the legs ofthe irst clamping member, said connecting bar portion being providedwith noncircular means cooperating with that of the threaded member tolock it against turning, and cooperating means on the body and the otherleg of the locking bar operating by resilient action of the U-shapedmember to releasably retain the bar in locking position.

5. A Wire and cable connector comprising two opposed clamping membersconnected for relative sliding movement and provided with opposedclamping surfaces for the wires, one of said members comprising a bodymember including side walls and end walls one of which is an inwardlyextending cross wall forming its clamping surface, said clamping memberalso including a rotatable screw element mounted in the body memberhaving threaded engagement with the other clamping member for clampingthese members on the wires, said screw element being provided with anoncircular portion for cooperation with a similarly shaped tool foroperating said element, a locking member comprising a substantiallyU-shaped member including spaced substantially parallel legs and aconnecting bar between them, said connecting bar provided with a similarnoncircular portion to that on the screw element to cooperate therewithto lock the element in clamping position, one of said legs beingprovided with an elongated slot embracing the said inwardly extendingcross wall of the body member providing a pivotal connection between thelocking member and the body member for movement of the connecting bar toand from a position across the other end wall to shift the noncircularportion on the locking member to and from cooperative position with thaton the screw element to lock and release said element, and cooperatingmeans on the body member and the other leg of the locking member forreleasably securing the locking member in locking position.

References Cited in the le of this patent Number 5 793,432 1,49 1,6602,006,794

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Geisel a June 27, 1905 Batton Apr. 22,1924 Davidson July 2, 1935

